There are many reasons why you might be looking for online therapy. Fact is that those seeking therapy online now have a greater choice than just a few years ago. The Covid pandemic shook things up, amongst others the mental health service. Therapy sessions no longer have to be in person sessions. If you find a trained therapist who tailors the treatment to your needs, you will receive online therapy that is effective.
Choosing the Right Therapist
If you want to find the best therapist for your particular issue, you should first get an idea about the different therapy services available. Traditional therapy might entail a lot of different things, amongst others:
Counsellors
Psychotherapists
Clinical Psychologists
Hypnotherapists
Before you commit to anything, you might want to find out more about what the licensed therapists actually do and for which symptoms their approach would bring the most benefits. Hypnotherapy, for example, can be highly effective in the areas of anxiety, depression, psychosomatic symptoms, pain management, weight loss and more.
Professional therapists who offer online therapy will provide you with a description of their approach on their website. This should give you an initial idea of what the online therapy will look like and whether online counselling or a different type of therapy seems right for you.
The Different Steps of Online Therapy
Once you found a therapy service that resonates with you, you won't jump right in to treatment. There are different steps that will be followed to provide you with the best possible mental health care. Find a therapist, book your first appointment and this is what will happen:
Initial Consultation
Before your online therapy sessions start, you can usually use a free initial consultation in order to present your issue to the online counsellor or therapist. This is usually done via phone but your chosen therapist might prefer a video call already.
What you can expect from this consultation is that the online therapist will ask you a couple of questions to get an idea of the presenting issue, its severity and your mental health history. This also gives you an opportunity to ask questions. Since you haven't paid anything yet, this is another chance to find out if, for example, open ended counselling is really what you expected it to be. Moreover, you will get a chance to get to know your therapist and see if you feel comfortable working with them.
But not only the clients benefit from this process. Therapists use this first consultation in order to assess their ability to help you. There are multiple ways why therapy might not go ahead after this point. If your life is severely affected by anxiety, depression or another issue, not all therapists will have the training required to assist you. Instead of offering you face to face counselling, the therapist will refer you to a colleague who can support you. It could also be that the method you chose does not actually work for the presented issue.
Usually, everything goes well and both you and your chosen therapist will be ready to go ahead. This is what happens next:
First Therapy Session
Your first session will definitely be face to face therapy via video call. It is best to do live sessions from your own home, in a quiet room where you can speak freely, with nobody else present. Schedule your sessions during times when you aren't in a hurry. This will allow you to start therapy as relaxed as possible.
How one therapist plans sessions might differ from another but usually the first therapy session is used to discuss the problem in more detail and to see what kind of treatment plan would work for you. There will also be some technical issues that will be discussed. Such as payments, cancellation policies and data protection. Once you have agreed on a treatment plan, you will now be able to access further sessions.
Treatment Sessions
The video calls following the first session will focus on providing you with the tools to effectively handle the issue you went into therapy for. Depending on the therapist's services and approach these can vary a great deal. However, the aim of every therapy should be for you to develop the skills required to overcome anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue and to live your life to the fullest.
The Final Therapy Session
Throughout your online sessions you should have seen an improvement in your symptoms. Open communication with your therapist is key in order to tailor your treatment to your needs. This is the only way how you can fully benefit from therapy.
Sometimes it can happen that further problems start to present themselves while you are in therapy or something seemingly unrelated might surface. The final therapy session will be an opportunity to discuss the success of the therapy (so far) and if you have any other concerns you might want to start treatment for.
Practical Things to Know about Online Counselling and Therapy
I already mentioned a few practical things throughout this text but I would like to give you a quick overview so that you are prepared as much as possible.
Contact your chosen therapist and book your sessions in advance - there might be a waiting list!
Make sure you have the necessary equipment (webcam, headset/microphone and speaker, reliable internet connection)
Choose a room, which is quiet and private
Be on time for your sessions - if you are late, you might have to book another session to make up for lost time and the treatment could potentially be less effective
Honesty is key to a successful therapy - tell your therapist what does and doesn't work for you
FAQ
Does online hypnotherapy work?
Yes, it does. There is no evidence that hypnotherapy online is less or more effective than client and therapist being in the same room. There are a few technical things to consider, of course, such as a reliable internet connection. As long as you have access to this, a quiet and private room, there is no reason why these online services should not bring the desired benefits.
Can a person be hypnotized online?
Yes, you can be hypnotised online - with some practice you can even hypnotise yourself without a therapist or anyone else guiding you. In fact, a good hypnotherapist will teach you these skills so that you can use them in the real-life situations you need them for.
What is the best hypnotherapy website?
Well, that is surely a matter of personal taste. Personally, I think my hypnotherapy website isn't too bad. Would you like to take a look and see for yourself if you agree?
Can I talk to a therapist online for free?
That depends on the therapist, if they can accept insurance and if your health insurance does cover their services. The initial consultation, however, should always be free of charge.
How much does online therapy cost?
The costs for online therapy can vary widely, depending on the type of therapy and where your therapist is located. The beauty of online therapy is that you are not limited to one specific area. Feel free to shop around and find a qualified therapist who can provide you with a great service for less.
What is the best online therapist?
This question will have as many answers as there are clients. You should find a therapist who has the necessary qualifications and an approach that is suitable for your issue. Moreover, you should be able to trust your therapist as well as feel safe to share your concerns and feedback with them. The best online therapist will help you achieve realistic goals in accordance with what you agreed upon.
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